–8 were unvaccinated, 208 new cases recorded

TWELVE more persons have died after contracting COVID-19, taking Guyana’s overall death toll to 725, the Ministry of Health has reported.

With the addition of the 12 new cases Guyana has recorded 100 deaths since the month of September started; this is the highest number of deaths recorded in a single month since the pandemic hit these shores in March 2020.

The latest fatalities include two residents of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) – two males ages 82 and 56, who died on September 18 and 19, respectively; one of the men was said to be partially vaccinated while the other was unvaccinated.

A man and a woman, age 70 and 71 from Region Two, also succumbed on September 18 and 16 respectively; they were both unvaccinated.

The other fatalities were three men From Region Three (Essequibo Islands – West Demerara) – a 74-year-old man, who was unvaccinated and died on September 14; a 57-year-old man who was unvaccinated and died on September 10; and a 47-year-old man whose vaccination status is currently “unknown”; he died on September 10.

Three women from Region Three (Essequibo Islands – West Demerara) also recently died – a 72-year-old who was partially vaccinated and died on September 14; a 60-year-old who died on September 13 and was unvaccinated and a 68-year-old who was partially vaccinated and died on September 17.

The other two fatalities were a 53-year-old male from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and a 74-year-old man from Region Ten (Upper Demerara – Berbice); both men were unvaccinated and died on September 18.

According to the Ministry of Health, all 12 persons died while receiving treatment at a government facility.

Additionally, there are currently 3,838 active COVID-19 cases in Guyana, following the addition of 208 new cases on September 19 from 1,750 tests. The 208 newly confirmed cases were recorded in nine of the ten Administrative Regions.

Region Four accounted for 93 of the new cases; Region One recorded 10 new cases, Region Two recorded seven cases, Region Three recorded 51 cases, Region Five recorded four new cases, Region Six recorded six cases. Region Seven recorded 28 new cases while Regions Eight and Nine recorded two and seven cases respectively.

The country has now recorded a total of 29,553 confirmed cases since the first COVID-19 case was reported in March 2020.

Of the active cases, 33 persons are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liliendaal; 158 are in institutional isolation; 3,637 are in home isolation, and three are in institutional quarantine.

Many of the persons infected with the virus are said to be asymptomatic, that is, they are not exhibiting symptoms.

The updated COVID–19 Emergency Measures are in force until September 30, 2021. They may be extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Health, after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions of the pandemic.

As per the current measures, all persons are required to wear face masks when leaving their homes, and physical distancing and adequate sanitisation are recommended. The current curfew is 22:30hrs to 04:00hrs.

Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline numbers: 231-1166; 226-7480; or 180/181 for assistance.